Institute of Neurological Recovery Blog

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New study provides further evidence of the central role of TNF in stroke pathophysiology

  • A new study, published 14 March 2014, provides further evidence of the central role of TNF in stroke pathobiology:
  • “The abstract begins: “Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of permanent disability. Although reperfusion is currently used as treatment, the restoration of blood flow following ischaemia elicits a profound inflammatory response mediated by proinflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), exacerbating tissue damage and worsening the outcomes for stroke patients…..”
  • “Our study is in good agreement with other studies pointing to a key role of microglial TNF in early-phase inflammation in the CNS.”

Low, et al., PI3K-delta inhibition reduces TNF secretion and neuroinflammation in a mouse cerebral stroke model, Nature Communications 5, Article number: 3450 doi:10.1038/ncomms4450  Published 14 March 2014.

The full-text and abstract of the study are available at this link:

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140314/ncomms4450/full/ncomms4450.html

See also: (Tobinick, E., Rapid improvement of chronic stroke deficits after [treatment with a biologic TNF inhibitor]: three consecutive cases. CNS Drugs, 2011. 25(2): p. 145-55; and Tobinick, E., et al., Selective TNF Inhibition for Chronic Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury : An Observational Study Involving 629 Consecutive Patients Treated [with a biological TNF inhibitior]. CNS Drugs, 2012. 26(12): p. 1051-70. Results can vary. Please see the Terms of Use.

 

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INR News and Links

For further information regarding the INR, please see the following sources, accessible by clicking on the links below:

 

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“… a compelling therapeutic strategy to improve neurological outcome in patients after ICH”

J Neuroinflammation. 2013 Aug 20;10(1):103. doi: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-103.

Title: TNF-alpha antagonism improves neurological recovery in murine intracerebral hemorrhage

Lei BDawson HNRoulhac-Wilson BWang HLaskowitz DTJames ML.

Source:

Multidisciplinary Neuroprotection Laboratories, 132 Sands Bldg, Durham, NC 27710, USA. michael.james@duke.edu.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating stroke subtype characterized by a prominent neuroinflammatory response. Antagonism of pro-inflammatory cytokines by specific antibodies represents a compelling therapeutic strategy to improve neurological outcome in patients after ICH. To test this hypothesis, the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) antibody CNTO5048 was administered to mice after ICH induction, and histological and functional endpoints were assessed.

METHODS:

Using 10 to 12-week-old C57BL/6J male mice, ICH was induced by collagenase injection into the left basal ganglia. Brain TNF-alpha concentration, microglia activation/macrophage recruitment, hematoma volume, cerebral edema, and rotorod latency were assessed in mice treated with the TNF-alpha antibody, CNTO5048, or vehicle.

RESULTS:

After ICH induction, mice treated with CNTO5048 demonstrated reduction in microglial activation/macrophage recruitment compared to vehicle-treated animals, as assessed by unbiased stereology (P = 0.049). This reduction in F4/80-positive cells was associated with a reduction in cleaved caspase-3 (P = 0.046) and cerebral edema (P = 0.026) despite similar hematoma volumes, when compared to mice treated with vehicle control. Treatment with CNTO5048 after ICH induction was associated with a reduction in functional deficit when compared to mice treated with vehicle control, as assessed by rotorod latencies (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS:

Post-injury treatment with the TNF-alpha antibody CNTO5048 results in less neuroinflammation and improved functional outcomes in a murine model of ICH.

PMID: 23962089
 

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Charlie and Cheryll at the INR Los Angeles July 2013

Charlie and Cheryll Giles with Dr. Tobinick at the INR 100 UCLA Medical Plaza July 11, 2013

Charlie and Cheryll Giles with Dr. Tobinick at the INR 100 UCLA Medical Plaza July 11, 2013

Three years after the original filming of “A New Shot at Life” by 60 Minutes Australia.

To view the documentary, please go to the original 60 Minutes Australia feature, available here.

 

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New data points to excess TNF as a potential therapeutic target for certain forms of dementia

On March 30, 2013, new data from the UCSF Memory and Aging Center published pointing to excess TNF as a potential therapeutic target for certain forms of dementia. In particular, elevated TNF levels were observed in the cohort of individuals examined with semantic variant PPA (primary progressive aphasia) (see Miller ZA, Rankin KP, Graff-Radford NR, Takada LT, Sturm VE, Cleveland CM, Criswell LA, Jaeger PA, Stan T, Heggeli KA, et al: TDP-43 frontotemporal lobar degeneration and autoimmune disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2013).

We note that this UCSF study follows by more than four years the initial report of rapid clinical improvement in an individual with PPA following the off-label use of perispinal etanercept (Tobinick E: Perispinal etanercept produces rapid improvement in primary progressive aphasia: identification of a novel, rapidly reversible TNF-mediated pathophysiologic mechanism. Medscape J Med 2008, 10:135).